To save her village's last lifeline from a predatory mining company, housewife Ming-hua steps out of the kitchen and into the heart of a volatile political conflict.
In search of clean water, villagers hike deep into the mountains, only to be struck by a deafening roar as mining explosions begin—shattering an aging community without public water infrastructure, slowly drifting into decay and silence. As mining capital invades, Zhonghua Village fractures under financial temptations and threats.
From the steaming kitchen of her diner, restaurant owner Ming-hua steps forward, urging elderly neighbors to leave their farmwork and unite. While developers buy support through free meals and secret meetings, Ming-hua gathers villagers under the warm light of her dining table late at night to research strategies. During heated village meetings, a majority votes to recall the pro-mining village chief, choosing this ordinary mother to lead.
Yet, new mining companies return—using money and personal ties to divide the village once again. Facing an endless struggle, Ming-hua stands at a critical crossroads—torn between returning to domestic peace or continuing the public fight for her children’s future.
Rooted in seven years of filming since 2019, moving between observational landscapes and intimate, direct cinema, this mountain community’s destiny unfolds into a complex symphony—asking how a home, amidst relentless exploitation, can preserve its water and dignity so they may continue to flow.
Dai Wei is an independent filmmaker based in Taiwan, working across the realms of both documentary and fiction. She explores “stories in the cracks,” focusing on the unheard and blending reality with experimental art to push the boundaries of imagination. For her, cinema is more than a medium; it is a vital language for the voiceless.
CHANG Tzu Hsiang is a director and cinematographer from Taiwan and an alumnus of the Golden Horse Film Academy. He focuses on individual fate in contemporary society, seeking a profound dialogue between the camera and reality.
Pony Ma is a film critic and the head of the program team at the Taipei Film Festival. Born and raised in Taipei, she had been one of the directors of the Taiwan Film Critics Society and was invited to serve as guest curator. In 2024, she co-founded Autumn Film Production as a producer, and provides festival strategy.